Kate Slack practises as a barrister at the private Bar. Kate has a predominantly public law and regulatory law practice.
Kate regularly appears, both led and unled, in federal and state jurisdictions at trial and appellate level. Her particular expertise is in complex judicial review proceedings (see Byron Aged Care v Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner [2022] FCA 1060 (unled against Silk) and McCullagh v Northern Midlands Council, Knowles and Jennings [2024] TASSC 66 (led by Chris Gunson SC), appeals from the Federal Court to the Full Federal Court (see Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review [2023] FCAFC 160 (unled against Silk) and, appeals from the Administrative Review Tribunal (previously the Administrative Appeals Tribunal) to the Federal Court (see John Holland Pty Ltd v Bartlett [2023] FCA 1030 (unled against Silk) and Woodhouse v Comcare [2021] FCAFC 95 (led by Andrew Berger KC)).
Kate appeared for the plaintiffs in the two most recent High Court cases on the operation and application of the power in s 51(xix) of the Constitution: Love v Commonwealth of Australia (2020) 270 CLR 152 (led by Stephen Keim SC) and, Chetcuti v Commonwealth of Australia (2021) 272 CLR 609 (led by Georgina Schoff KC and Georgina Costello KC). Kate has appeared in other significant High Court proceedings including Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v Moorcroft (2021) 273 CLR 21 (led by Stephen Keim SC) and Willmot v State of Queensland [2024] HCA 42 (led by Cate Heyworth-Smith KC).
Kate is also often briefed to appear in urgent interlocutory applications including, for example, for the Queensland Electoral Commission on the day of the Queensland State Election in October 2024.
In June 2022, Kate was appointed Chair of the Public Records Review Committee of the Queensland State Archives. Prior to being appointed Chair, Kate was a member of the Committee for six years.
In October 2022, Kate was elected to the Executive of the Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section of the Law Council of Australia. Kate also currently serves as the Editor of the Law Council of Australia’s publication, Chapter III.
Kate presently serves on the Bar Council of the Queensland Bar Association (and previously served on Bar Council from December 2017 to December 2018).
Before being called to the Bar in June 2015, Kate was a Senior Solicitor in the government team of a national firm.
Areas of Practice Administrative and Public Law, Appellate Law, Constitutional Law, Industrial Relations Law, Regulatory Law, Statutory Entitlements Law, Workplace Investigations
